Heat insulating panel



Nov. 21, 1939. l.. T. slBLEY Er A1. l2,180,373

HEAT INSULATING PANEL Filed Oct. 29, 1937 INVENToRs. fm 7.' .Sibley avayJ. .Smil

56am ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1939 i UNITED STATES PATENT ,OFFICE HEATINSULATING PANEL Leon T. Sibley, Rutherford, N. L, and Roy J.

poration of Delaware Application October 29,

2 Claims.

'This invention relates to heat insulating devices and more particularlyto a pre-fabricated paneltype of metal assembly that may be used onvarious industrial equipment such as for example oil tanks to preserveheat. The panel is characterized by having a metal basket connected to asheet metal cover and spaced therefrom by metal connectors.

Heretofore, the conventional methods of heat insulating variousindustrial equipment such as storage tanks, fractionating columns, andvacuum towers was to rigidly fasten to the equipment layers ofinsulating material such as magnesia or cement or layers of rock wool.Thse insulating layers were fastened to the device to be insulated bymeans of chicken wire, metal laths, galvanized wires, etc. In someinstances particularly where high temperatures are involved, several ofthese insulation layers with metallic supports have been commonly usedon the industrial equipment. After these insulating layers are applied,which in itself is time consuming and expensive, the entire outersurface'is then plastered with a layer of asbestos or rock wool cementto which is added a mixture of Portland cement or-other plasticmaterials to produce a hardened surface. This cementing operation isnecessary to seal the cracks, joints and broken segments of thepreviously applied insulation layers.

In view of the fact that the above described heat insulating materialsas used are exposed to general weather conditions which would normallycause deterioration, it has heretofore been necessary to Waterproof theentire exposed area. A number of different weather-proofing methods havebeen tried but have been found to possess certain practicaldisadvantages. One of the best of these attempts consists in theapplication of a plastic water-proofing cement trowelled or otherwisespread over the hard-finish cement to a thickness of approximatelyone-quarter of an inch. This method gives satisfactory resultsinitially, but over a period of time under weathering conditions theplastic cement coating deteriorates and loses its water-proofingeffectiveness. AIt is also subject to rupture by leaks of hot air fromthe insulated equipment and by contraction and expansion of theinsulated material wit changes in temperature.

An object of the present invention is to' provide a self-supportingweather resistant heat insulating device having high heat preservingeiciency.

In accordance with the present invention the above describeddisadvantages and limitations characteristic of the insulating devicesused here- Scott, Forest Hills, Long Island, N. Y., assignors to AlfolInsulation Company, Inc., a cor- 1937, Serial No.- 171,681

(Cl. 18S-34) tofore have been overcome by the use of a simple buteilicient metal panel-type of heat insulator. 'I'his heat insulatingdevice may be prefabricated and may be made in units of any desired sizeand shape whereby installation of these units around ti or upon theequipment to be insulated can be easily effected. 'I'he device of thisinvention comprises generally, an expanded metal or mesh-like baskethaving a complete inner lining made of relatively thin metal foil, orfoil coated paper, or 1U other heat insulating material and having aseries of strips or layers of crumpled thin metal foil spaced apart andarranged within the metal foil inner lining, or a mass, or strips of anyother suitable heat insulating material such as rock wool, 15 cottonetc., loosely or compactly arranged, and a sheet metal cover attached toand covering the top of the metal basket; the attachment being made byseparate metal connectors that space the basket away from the sheetmetal cover. The 20 strips or layers of metal foil or other heatinsulating material arranged in the basket may be spaced apart toprovide desired air spaces between strips for preventing transfer ofheat across or through the basket.

This new type of heat insulating unit is easily applied to flat or roundsurfaces such as, for example, square or round tanks, columns, pipes,etc. Without any positive physical attachment of the unit to theequipment which it insulates, the metal 30 baskets with outer sheetmetal covers being placed around and in close contact with the structureto be insulated. When used on rounded surfaces the ,metal panels aregiven a suitable curvature. Upon installation, the baskets are joinedtogether by 35 meansof connecting cli-ps and bolts mounted on 'the outersurface of the sheet metal cover so as to provide a self-supportingunitary cover for the insulated structure. The metal basket or panel ofthis invention is light in weight, is character- 40 ized by high heatinsulation elciency, is fire proof, vermin-proof, and water-proof andmay be easily assembled.

The novel features o'f this invention are setv forth'with particularityin the appended claims. 45 The invention itself, however, both as toorganization and method of operation may be easily understood from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the heat insulating metal basket panel; A f

Fig. 2 is a side view of the panel partly broken away to show'the metalfoil inner lining and spaced strips of metal' foil;

`als

Fig. 3 is an end view of a curved form of the metal basket panel;

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a curved form of the metal basketpanel Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the metal foil strips used in thebasket, only part of the strip being crumpled to show the irregularformation; and

Fig. 6 is a front view illustrating the method of application of themetal basket panels to a surface to be insulated. y

Fig. 'l is a modification of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 isa detail of the clincher strip and its mode of application.

Referring now more in detail to the several figures of the drawing, itwill be seen that the metal panel comprises an expanded metal ormeshlike basket I0, the top of which is covered by a'sheet metal jacketII, the latter being attached to the metal basket by means of a numberof metal clips I2. These clips are welded at different points 4aroundthe periphery of the top edge of the expanded metal basket. The clipslare angular in form and the metal basket rests upon one extended leg ofthe angle and is welded to one or two of the wires in the side wall ofthe basket. This type of small surface contact connection between themetal basket and sheet metal jacket avoids any appreciable through-metalcontact between these two members. In place of the clips I2 bent metalrods 21, shown in Fig. '7, may be used. These rods are welded tothesheet metal cover II at the points 28 and may 'also be welded to themetal basket I if necessary. The outer sheet metal jacket II may bereinforced whenever necessary by means of angle-irons such as shown atI3 welded to the inside of the jacket.

The long side edges of the sheet metal jacket ll are folded back asuitable distance for example, one half of an inch to form a clincheredge shown at I4. This clincher edge extends along each side of thepanel jackets. On the outside face of the metal jacket II are welded asuitable number of angular metal clips I5. rThese clips are drilled toform holes I6 which accommodate a carriage bolt Il as shown in Fig. 6.When the panels are erected these carriage bolts `are placed in theclips of adjacent panels to temporarily hold the panels in approximatelycorrect position, as explained more in detail hereinafter. These clips Iand bolts Il are not always necessary and may be omitted if desired.

The bottom edge of each panel is constructed so that it has anoverhanging jacket I8 extending a suitable distance, for example threeinches, beyond the edge of the basket I0. 'I'he top edge of the jacketII is approximately flush with the end of the basket I0. On the outsidesurface of the jacket II near -each of its ends are Welded severalZ-shaped clincher clips I9. These clips may be approximately of an inchwide and may be made of 13-gauge metal. They may be located convenientlyabout 3 inches from the end of the metal jacket II. The clips I9 may bereplaced by sheet metal screws if desired.

Located within the metal basket I0, as shown in Fig. 2 is a heatreflective inner lining 20. This inner lining may be made of thin metalfoil such as aluminum foil or it may consist of v`foil coated paper orany other suitable heat reflective material. The lining is applied flatagainst the bottom and sides of the metal basket. I0 and with itsreflective surfaces exposed through the meshes of the basket on all vesuu'faces. This lining may, if desired, cover the open top of the basketjust beneath the outer sheet metal jacket I I. Located Within the innerlining are a plurality of thin strips of heat reflective material 22.These strips may be made of aluminum or other metal foil sufficientlythin to have negligible heat conducting capacity and having a brightreflective surface to efliciently reflect heat. transmitted thereto.These metal foil or other suitable thin strips of heat insulatingmaterial extend the length of the metal basket and are fastened at eachend by any suitable means. .For example they may be cemented to theinner lining of the metal basket on each end by means of sodium silicateor other adhesive. These heat reflective strips are spaced apartsuiciently to provide heat insulating air spaces between the strips. Ithas been found advantageous to space these strips so that an air spaceof approximately of an inch will be provided between adjacent strips.

A suitable form of metal foil heat insulating strip for use in the metalbaskets as described above, is shown in Fig. 5.v The metal foil strip 23which is preferably made of thin aluminum foil is crumpled by hand orany suitable means to form a very large number of irregular surfacesillustrated at 24. This formation may be produced by simply wadding andlightly compressing the flat sheet of metal foil by hand and thenpulling out the crumpled sheet to its new effective length. It will benoted that the crumpling of the sheet reduces its width. The purpose ofthe crumpling of the sheet is to provide surfaces of various heights andformations so that when the sheets are laid side by side in the metalbasket any contact between sheets will be only point contact instead ofcontinuous flat surface contact. This arrangement insures a minimumamount of heat transfer between adjacent sheets. This feature isillustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the several sheets of crumpled metal foil24 are shown as having only point contact with each other.

The method of applying the heat insulating metal panels shown in Figs. 1to 4 is illustrated in Fig. 6. The panels are arranged vertically asshown in the latter gure and joined together in sufficient number tocover the entire exposed surface of the equipment generally shown at 25.Adjacent panels are fastened together by means of the metal clips I5 andbolts Il as described above. Tightening of these bolts brings theclincher edges I4 of adjacent panels near' eacli other. A clincher strip26 shown in Fig. 8 is then driven down over the clincher edges I4 ofeach'of the abutting jackets II thereby securely locking the two panelstogether and in proper position. This clincher strip 26 is easilyremovable and replaceable, by means of a notch 2B in the clincher edgeI4, which notch is 1ocated at the junction ofclincher strips 26. Thestrip 26 serves several functions including locking the two panelstogether, forming a waterproof and heat insulating joint therebetweenand maintains the joined panels in their proper posi# tions, preventingbuckling or sagging.

At the time` the panels are being installed in the manner describedabove, compressible and expansible gaskets (notl shown). around theedges of eachl panel as they are erected. These gaskets may be made ofany suitable material such as forY example, glass wool, mineral wool,rock wo'ol, lead Wool, mattedasbestos, etc. The' expanded metal basketI0 will securely maintain4 the gasket in position and vat the are placedsame time permit any necessary expansion of the i' gasket into the panelwithout materially increasing its density, thereby maintaining itsoriginal is permitted at each panel joint. The clincher' are easilyremovable and replaceable one unitat a time and independent from anyother unit.

The metal foil inner lining 20 provided in each of the baskets serves toreflect the majority of the radiant heat back against the surface onwhich the insulation is applied, resulting in quick preheating or quickcooling of the surface vas desired. The inside face of the metal jacketII may be covered with aluminum paint or with foil coated insulatingmaterial or aluminum foil, as suggested above, to provide a heatreective surface which will reflect the major portion of the radiantheat that may be carried by convection currents through the surroundingedges of the insulation in the panel back toward its source.

This feature effects minimum heat transfer at all joints.

The outer exposed surface of the metal jacket Il, as well as allsurfaces of the metal basket Il) are preferably coated with aluminumpaint applied in such a manner that it will withstand high temperatureswithout disintegration or discoloration. These aluminum coated surfacesact not only as reflectors of radiant heat on the inside of the paneltoward the surface being insulated but they also insure a v ery lowemission of radiant heat on the outside surface of the tank.'

In summer daylight operation the outside aluminum painted surfaces willserve to reect a large portion of the incident solar radiant heat.`

It will be understood that the materials., sizes and modes ofconstruction` described hereinabove, by Way of example to illustrate thegeneral principles of this invention may be changed to meet varying heatinsulating requirements without departing from the scope of theinvention. Some of the novel features of the heat insulating panels ofthis invention are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A heat insulating metal panel comprising an outer sheet metal cover,a substantially rigid reticulated metal basket having one normally openside and being attached to said metal cover at peripheral points alongthe edges of said normally open side by means of metal connectors whichspace said reticulated metal basket from said sheet metal cover toprovide a heat insulating dead air space therebetween whichsubstantially prevents flow of heatlbetween said cover and basket, ametallic foil, basket shaped, member located within said basket andforming an air impervious heat' reflective lining for said reticulatedbasket and providing an effective heat insulating dead air space withinsaid basket such that flow of air into and out of said basket issubstantially prevented, and heat insulating material loosely arrangedwithin said metal foil, basket-shaped member so as to divide said deadair space into a plurality of smaller dead air spaces whichsubstantially prevent transfer of heat through said basket.

2. A heat insulating panel as defined in claim l in which the connectorsthat connect the reticulated metal basket and sheetl metal cover areangular shaped metal clips .Welded to said basket and cover.

- LEON T. SIBLEY.

ROY J. SCOII.

